Free Park-ing

Last semester my sociology class required that I provide 15 hours of community service and keep a diary of  my activities. I chose working at Quiet Waters Park in Annapolis.  My service turned out to be helping the park horticulturist, Joyce Green (Great name for a horticulturist, right) dig up an old herb garden around one of the statues in the statue garden and replace it with rose bushes. By the second day of volunteering Joyce's boss, Mark, must have liked my work because he asked me if I'd be interested in a part time job there. I said I would certainly consider it and we left it at that.

This rose project took less than 15 hours so I volunteered to work at the parks Earth Day festivities.  This put me over my required hours and I had some fun and even learned some stuff. While we were cleaning up Joyce asked me again if I'd like to work at the park part time. I had talked it over with Kathy and she agreed with me that a seasonal job for the county was better that working at my current job where my paychecks don't always cash. Joyce said it was dependent on whether the next budget would be approved but she would have Mark call me if there was an opening. This was in April.

At the End of May, Mark finally called me and asked again if I was interested and I said yes.  He said that the position was approved in the budget and I should come in and fill out some paperwork to get the process started. He called me back two minutes later and asked if I had a drivers license. Yes. Good.  He call back again a couple minutes later and asked if I had any felony convictions. No. Good. It was the best interview I've ever had.

Three weeks ago he asked me when I could start. I told him that I had to give notice at my other job but since I'm only working there three days a week I could start by working two days at the park the following week.  He wanted to make sure I knew that this was seasonal work and I would be working a lot less in the winters.  I said that was fine because then I could concentrate on school.

Now I'm into my second week and I'm enjoying it.  The hours are 6am til 2:30 which I'll have to get used to again but it's working outside and there is more contact with nature that with customers. So far I've gotten to drive a 1 ton dump truck and use one of those leaf blowers that you strap to your back. Nice.  I'm hoping Joyce can give me some pointers on getting grass to grow in my yard but that will all come in time.  I'm also looking forward to learning to drive a real tractor.  Sadly, it's always been a dream of mine and it's about time it was fulfilled.